By Bed Threads Bedding 01.11.2025

How To Choose Between Cotton and Linen Bedding

Deciding between cotton versus linen bed sheets? Here are some key differences to keep in mind.

Shopping for some fresh bedding? While you can’t go wrong with either option, there are a few key differences to keep in mind.

Read on to learn about what differentiates each option, so that you can choose the perfect sheets for your taste and lifestyle.

General overview

Cotton and linen are both incredibly popular natural materials, and while they share plenty of features, they are each distinct in their own ways. If you’re deciding between these two options for your next bedding set, you should first consider:

Look
Feel
Overall aesthetic
Care and maintenance

Look

The first thing you’re likely to notice about bedding is how it looks. Cotton and linen bedding have very different looks, which impacts how they visually work against a given bedding setup and bedroom.

Visual differences between cotton and linen sheets

Cotton sheets often have a subtle, smooth sheen, giving them a neat, matte look. On the other hand, linen sheets tend to give off a more textured and lived-in vibe, adding a natural and slightly rustic appearance.

Which one wrinkles more?

While both cotton and linen bedding can become wrinkled with washing, drying and normal use, linen is generally the more wrinkly of the two.

In fact, the wrinkled look is part of the unique aesthetic appeal of linen bedding. Linen’s more loosely woven fibres mean that it’s not as perfectly smooth as cotton, but the subtle creases and folds look luxuriously relaxed, rather than unkempt.

Feel

Arguably, the most important factor to consider is the texture and feel of your bedding. This has a huge impact on how comfy your bed is overall, and while both options are dreamy, they do differ in subtle ways. Here’s how cotton and linen stack up:

Which one is softer?

Cotton and linen sheets can both be deliciously soft on the skin. However, they feel soft in quite different ways.

High-quality cotton percale sheets are smooth and cool to the touch — think luxury hotel room. This silky smoothness is there from the very first use.

Linen, on the other hand, has a buttery-softness that develops over time. The first use of linen sheets will still be comfortable, but the more you use them, the softer the fibres will become.

Which one is cooler?

Cotton and linen are both breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics. This makes them perfect for staying cool in the warmer months.

Of the two options, linen is more adaptable to different climates, thanks to its light weave and hollow fibres. Likewise, linen is exceptional at moisture-wicking, which is a lifesaver on those hot and humid summer nights.

Which one is warmer?

Cotton is the better year-round option as it tends to retain heat slightly better than linen, thanks to its hard-wearing weave. This makes it an ideal choice for cooler climates while still being flexible enough for year-round use.

Overall aesthetic

Your choice of bedding material will impact the overall look of your bed, the centrepiece of the room. While both cotton and linen sheets add a certain level of luxury, they do have stylistic differences.

Different design styles

Cotton and linen work with different design styles, thanks to their unique textures and looks.

Cotton’s crisp texture and matte sheen are perfect for contemporary, polished aesthetics.

On the other hand, linen’s natural, slightly wrinkled appearance and rustic texture give off a casual luxury, perfect for uncomplicated bedroom styles and a breezy feel.

Care and maintenance

As natural materials, cotton and linen have similar care requirements, but when it comes to long-term maintenance, there are some slight differences to keep in mind.

Washing

Both cotton and linen should be washed on a gentle cycle whenever possible.

Linen sheets should always be washed using cold water, while cotton sheets can be washed in cold or warm water. For both fabrics, hot water should be avoided as it can easily damage them, leading to shrinkage or weakening the fibres.

Gentle detergent is always best for washing bedding, and fabric softener should be avoided. While it may smell nice, it can cause a build-up of residue that impacts the breathability of both cotton and linen over time.

Drying

Cotton and linen have similar dos and don’ts when it comes to drying.

Both can be air-dried or tumble-dried (without heat).

While it doesn’t make a huge difference, linen tends to dry more quickly than cotton, thanks to its moisture-wicking properties.

If using the tumble-dryer for linen sheets, keep a close eye on them. You want to avoid reaching 100% dryness in the machine, as this can lead to brittleness and excessive, set-in wrinkles. Instead, remove the sheets from the tumble-dryer when still damp to air-dry the rest of the way.